Dr. Leah M. Devlin Elected President of National Public Health Association

State Health Director Leah Devlin been elected President of the Association of State and Territorial Health Officials (ASTHO). Dr. Devlin was elected on July 13, 2005, during the NACCHO-ASTHO 2005 Joint Conference in Boston, MA.
The Association of State and Territorial Health Officials is the national nonprofit organization representing the state and territorial public health agencies of the United States, the U.S. Territories, and the District of Columbia. ASTHO’s members, the chief health officials of these jurisdictions, are dedicated to formulating and influencing sound public health policy, and to assuring excellence in state-based public health practice.

“Dr. Devlin brings extensive public health experience and demonstrated leadership abilities to ASTHO,” said ASTHO Executive Director Dr. George E. Hardy. “Her sharp insight and commitment to excellence in public health will ensure that we continue to make significant advances in state-based public health practice.”

“The challenges to the public's health have never been greater, however the opportunities to improve health and strengthen our preparedness efforts are also enormous,” said Dr. Devlin. “I look forward to working with local, state and federal colleagues in the public health system, and our partners in the private sector to meet the challenges that lie ahead.”

Dr. Devlin began her public health career at the Wake County Health Department as a dentist in 1979. In 1986 she became Director of the Wake County Health Department serving for 10 years until moving to state government, where she held a number of positions. Dr. Devlin has been North Carolina State Health Director since May 2001.

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Last Modified: July 29, 2005